Robo Global Robotics and Automation ETF (ROBO) Performance
ROBO total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +7.9% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +8.9% total return
- 5 years
- +2.5% a year
- 10 years
- +10.7% a year
- Since first price
- +8.9% a year since 2013
ROBO trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | ROBO total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −6.7% | −6.7% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −4.5% | −4.5% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | −5.1% | −5.1% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +7.9% | +7.9% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +8.9% | +8.5% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +61.0%+17.2%/yr | +59.4% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +13.2%+2.5%/yr | +11.9% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +176.0%+10.7%/yr | +169.5% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| Since inceptionOct 22, 2013 | +204.2%+8.9%/yr | +195.4% | — | — | — |
Total return from adjusted closes (distributions reinvested, before tax). Periods of 3 years or more are also shown annualized. Price only excludes distributions.
Growth of $10,000: ROBO vs SPY
From Oct 22, 2013: ROBO grew to $30,418, SPY to $53,900.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
ROBO returns by calendar year
7 of 12 full years positive. Best 2020 (+45.3%), worst 2022 (−33.9%). 2026 is year to date.
ROBO annual returns table
| Year | ROBO | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +7.9% | −17.4% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +23.7% | −27.9% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | −1.3% | −14.6% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +23.7% | −24.2% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −33.9% | −42.2% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +15.3% | −16.5% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +45.3% | −34.2% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +29.5% | −16.7% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −20.9% | −32.9% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +44.3% | −5.4% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +18.6% | −13.3% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | −5.6% | −20.8% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | −5.8% | −14.8% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
Largest drop = deepest fall from a high within that calendar year.
Calendar-year return vs largest drop within the year
Most years include a sizable fall at some point even when the year ends higher.
ROBO largest drawdowns
Now 17.2% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 4, 2021 | −43.7% | Oct 14, 2022 | Dec 11, 2025 | 11 months | 4.1 years |
| Jan 23, 2018 | −36.8% | Mar 23, 2020 | Jul 20, 2020 | 2.2 years | 2.5 years |
| Jul 1, 2014 | −26.2% | Feb 11, 2016 | Sep 22, 2016 | 1.6 years | 2.2 years |
| Feb 25, 2026 | −17.4% | Mar 30, 2026 | Apr 24, 2026 | 33 days | 58 days |
| Jun 2, 2026 | −17.2% | Oct 23, 2026 | not yet | 5 months | 5 months so far |
| Feb 12, 2021 | −16.5% | May 12, 2021 | Nov 4, 2021 | 3 months | 9 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
ROBO risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2013 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +17.3% | +4.8% | +11.2% | +9.7% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 22.8% | 24.9% | 23.1% | 21.5% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.62 | 0.17 | 0.48 | 0.46 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.06 | 0.25 | 0.74 | 0.70 |
| Best month | +19.3% | +19.3% | +19.3% | +19.3% |
| Worst month | −12.7% | −13.6% | −13.6% | −13.6% |
| Best 12 months | +61.2% | +61.2% | +89.4% | +89.4% |
| Worst 12 months | −11.7% | −35.7% | −35.7% | −35.7% |
| Positive months | 61% | 55% | 61% | 59% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 1.57 | 1.42 | 1.32 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.86 | 0.89 | 0.88 | — |
From monthly total returns. Sharpe and Sortino use 1–3 month T-bills (BIL) as the risk-free rate, so they need history from 2007 on.
ROBO rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 145 | −35.7% | +9.2% | +89.4% | 65% |
| 3-year (a year) | 121 | −6.9% | +10.8% | +29.5% | 85% |
| 5-year (a year) | 97 | +1.6% | +7.7% | +24.3% | 100% |
| 10-year (a year) | 37 | +6.4% | +8.4% | +13.6% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2013. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
ROBO performance overview
Robo Global Robotics and Automation ETF (ROBO) returned +8.9% over the past year and +10.7% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2013 it has returned +8.9% a year, turning $10,000 into about $30,418. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −43.7%, from Nov 4, 2021 to Oct 14, 2022, and it took 3.2 years to get back to the old high. ROBO finished 7 of its 12 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2020 (+45.3%) and the worst 2022 (−33.9%). Volatility has been 21.5% a year.
Related: ROBO chart, ROBO holdings, ROBO dividends. See the ROBO overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
ROBO performance FAQ
What is the ROBO return over the past year?
ROBO returned +8.9% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 8.5%.
What is the average annual return of ROBO?
ROBO has returned +2.5% a year over 5 years, +10.7% a year over 10 years, +8.9% a year since October 22, 2013 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in ROBO be worth?
$10,000 invested in ROBO at its first recorded close on October 22, 2013 would be worth about $30,418 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for ROBO?
The worst calendar year was 2022, with a total return of −33.9%. The best was 2020 at +45.3%.
What is the biggest drawdown of ROBO?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −43.7% between November 4, 2021 and October 14, 2022. It recovered to the old high on December 11, 2025, 3.2 years after the bottom.
How volatile is ROBO?
Over the past 3 years ROBO had an annualized volatility of 22.8% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.62 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).